[maxwell]

some sort of suspended particulate, or he is ionizing the air in some way

Yeah that was my first thought:

modifies air particles to accept and reflect the image

"Accept": receives electromagnetic waves. "Reflect": beams 'em out again. So beams are absorbed and emitted back out again. Which means that specific energy levels are being pumped and released. Ionization could prep those energy levels...

Because take any ol' random particle: you bounce light off it, you have no idea of knowing what reflection angle that light is gonna take. Though maybe that's part of the "modification"... Hmmm..

[Steely Tom]

Because take any ol' random particle: you bounce light off it, you have no idea of knowing what reflection angle that light is gonna take. Though maybe that's part of the "modification"... Hmmm..

My reasoning is a lot less elegant than this. Based on first principles: you can't form an image in free space because free space is so linear. Any image-forming means has to involve some non-linearity distributed in space.

Particles are non-linear (with respect to ray angle). Ionization is non-linear (with respect to electric field).

Remember the "air spark" phenomenon seen when certain high-power lasers were discharged through a converging lens?

In any event, this technology is probably "smelly."

(steely)

[Socratic]

"Because take any ol' random particle: you bounce light off it, you have no idea of knowing what reflection angle that light is gonna take."

A river is composed of individual moving particles and the whole system is also flowing, but relected images can be clearly seen. This, I assume, is because of the distinct plane between two media with different refractive indices. If the "modification" can be made to create a distinct planar boundary between the affected and non-affected portions of the air, this should create the proper conditions to provide for a clear image.